Founded by the Romans in the first century BC, Lyon has played a major role in the political and religious development of Europe throughout its history. First known as Lugdunum, its archbishop was known as Primate of the Gauls, while several Popes were crowned in the city. The Middle Ages saw a boom in the spice and silk trade, the latter helping Lyon achieve its status as gastronomic capital of France. The city's distinctive street design, typified by narrow passageways known as traboules, have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Home of the Festival of Lights, it is apt the country's third largest city was home to cinema pioneers Auguste and Louis Lumière, who patented their cinématographe camera in 1895 and are widely considered to be the world's first filmmakers. The city proved a perfect place for the brothers to capture life, with its panoramic location at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers, and spectacular buildings such as Basilique de Fourvière which attracts one and a half million visitors each year.

Useful websites
www.lyon.fr
www.grandlyon.com
www.lyon-france.com
www.onlylyon.org
www.olweb.fr
www.tcl.fr
www.grandstadeol.com

Stade des Lumières
UEFA capacity: 58,000
Record attendance: n/a
Tenants: Olympique Lyonnais
Due to open: Summer 2015

• Located in the commune of Decines-Charpieu, 10km east of central Lyon, the stadium will form part of a complex stretched over 50 hectares and featuring a training ground for OL as well as hotels and office buildings.

• Constructed under the project name Grand Stade OL, the finished venue will consist of three tiers with seats no further than 15 metres from the pitch.

• The arena will replace the Stade de Gerland, Lyon's home since 1950 and among seven venues for the 1984 UEFA European Championship, hosting Denmark's 5-0 group-stage win against Yugoslavia and their semi-final loss on penalties to Spain.

• The Stade de Gerland was also a venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, staging Croatia's 3-0 quarter-final victory over Germany.